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Head-to-head · Infrastructure Testing Tools

Checkov vs KICS

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Checkov #1 in Infrastructure Testing Tools 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Checkov
KICS #5 in Infrastructure Testing Tools 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit KICS

Checkov leads on 0 checks, KICS on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCheckov · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth

Checkov scores higher on our rubric for infrastructure testing tools: 9.4 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

Checkov is the better fit for broad IaC security and compliance testing. KICS is the better fit for multi-format IaC security scanning.

  • Checkov fits best

    Broad IaC security and compliance testing

  • KICS fits best

    Multi-format IaC security scanning

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Checkov 9.4/10 Visit ↗ KICS 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.8
Ranking #1 in Infrastructure Testing Tools #5 in Infrastructure Testing Tools
Best for Broad IaC security and compliance testing Multi-format IaC security scanning
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Linux, macOS Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Integrations 9 integrations 16 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Checkov 0/4 · KICS 0/4
Config compliance Not checked yet Not checked yet
Provisioning tests Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployed checks Not checked yet Not checked yet
Policy as code Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
IaC support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Execution model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes and other configuration formats
  • Supports custom Python and YAML policies plus graph-based analysis
  • Integrates with CI/CD, pull requests, pre-commit hooks and IDEs
  • Scans Terraform, Kubernetes, CloudFormation, Pulumi, and many other formats
  • Customizable OPA Rego queries support policy testing and tailored checks
  • CI/CD integrations and reports in JSON, SARIF, HTML, PDF, CSV, and more
Cons
  • Platform support is limited to Linux and macOS
  • Commercial visibility and pull-request annotations come through Prisma Cloud
  • IDE extensions are provided through third-party extension marketplaces
  • CLI-first workflows may not suit teams seeking a hosted SaaS interface
  • Broad format coverage can require different policies across technologies
  • Automatic remediation is provided as a command rather than a managed workflow
Our verdict

Checkov is an open-source static analysis tool for infrastructure as code, designed for teams that need security and compliance checks across configuration files and deployment workflows. It scans Terraform and Terraform plans,…

Read the review →

KICS, or Keeping Infrastructure as Code Secure, is an open-source command-line tool from Checkmarx for infrastructure-as-code security scanning. It is designed for engineering and security teams that need to identify vulnerabilities,…

Read the review →
  1. CheckovInfrastructure Testing Tools 9.4Free plan
  2. KICSInfrastructure Testing Tools 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Checkov — where it wins

    • Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes and other configuration formats
    • Supports custom Python and YAML policies plus graph-based analysis
    • Integrates with CI/CD, pull requests, pre-commit hooks and IDEs

    Where it doesn't

    • Platform support is limited to Linux and macOS
    • Commercial visibility and pull-request annotations come through Prisma Cloud
    • IDE extensions are provided through third-party extension marketplaces

  • KICS — where it wins

    • Scans Terraform, Kubernetes, CloudFormation, Pulumi, and many other formats
    • Customizable OPA Rego queries support policy testing and tailored checks
    • CI/CD integrations and reports in JSON, SARIF, HTML, PDF, CSV, and more

    Where it doesn't

    • CLI-first workflows may not suit teams seeking a hosted SaaS interface
    • Broad format coverage can require different policies across technologies
    • Automatic remediation is provided as a command rather than a managed workflow
  • Checkov9.4/10 · Free plan

    A broad, free IaC scanner covering security, compliance, secrets and developer workflows.

    Visit CheckovFull verdict →
  • KICS8.8/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source CLI for broad IaC security, compliance, secrets, and policy scanning.

    Visit KICSFull verdict →

More comparisons

All infrastructure testing tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update